Ticks are important ectoparasites in Equids which causes economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in Equids in Turkman sahra, Iran. 240 Equids were randomly selected and examined from 2018-2019. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined Equids, 37.91% horses, and 4.16% donkeys were infested with a total number of 357 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 3.53.  The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old Equids in the region. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. Of all examined ticks (357), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (65.26%), H. marginatum (10.64%), Rhipicephalus bursa (22.12%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.96%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ infestations occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. There was significant difference between prevalence of hard ticks and seasons in this study. The results revealed that species diversity and ixodid ticks’ infestations were prevalent in the Equids of Turkman sahra, Iran.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by hydatid cysts, is a widespread and hazardous disease in humans and animals worldwide. The disease is very common in Turkey, causing serious economic losses and public health problem. In this study, the seroprevalence of equine CE was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Methods: Partially purified cyst fluid antigen from sheep hydatid cyst fluid was used as antigen in ELISA. A total of 250 Equids consisting of 206 donkeys and 44 horses from various regions of Erzurum province of Eastern Turkey.Results: Anti- Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were detected in 78 (31.2%) of 250 Equids.The prevalence rate was 20.4% for horses and 33.5% for donkeys. There was no statistically difference between sex and ages groups for both horses and donkeys (P>0.05).Conclusion: Equine CE is quite endemic in Eastern Turkey. The high prevalence of CE suggests that Equids in the transmission cycles is possible as a source of infection for definitive hosts.

The purposes of the present study were to report the relative frequency, to compare skin neoplastic diseases diagnosed in horses, donkeys, and mules in a referral hospital population, and to evaluate the outcome of surgical intervention in the treatment of the skin neoplastic diseases in the domestic Equids. Seventy-two domestic Equids including 32 horses, 30 mules, and 10 donkeys were included in this retrospective study. Data were obtained from medical sheets. The relative frequency of skin tumors was determined. The abnormal skin neoplastic/hyperplastic masses were removed with a radical surgical excision. The diagnosis was based on signalment, history, gross clinical examination, and confirmed by histopathological examination. The outcomes of surgical intervention were evaluated. The occurrence of skin tumors was higher in males than females and higher in intact males than geldings. Sarcoids were the most common skin tumor of horses and mules. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the second most common skin tumor in horses, whereas, papilloma/fibropapiloma was the second most common skin tumor in mules. Both sarcoids and SCCs were the most common skin tumors in donkeys. The inguinal region was the main anatomic location for the occurrence of skin tumors in males especially in intact, Equids. Sarcoids were mainly diagnosed on the skin of the male external genital system in intact horses. In male mules, all diagnosed sarcoids were located on the skin of the external genital system. Histopathological examination is necessary for accurate diagnosis of the skin neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in the Equids. The skin of the male external genital system is the main predilection site for the occurrence of skin tumors in domestic Equids. It seems that conventional surgery as a practical technique offers a higher rate of success in the treatment of skin tumors in domestic Equids.

Background: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is the cause of persistent tick-borne infection with no symptoms, but the most important problem of EP is due to the persistent carrier state. Carrier animals to Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran 1901) and B. caballi (Nuttall, 1910) infestation could be identified by extremely sensitive PCR-based method. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis based on molecular and microscopic assays in Equids from Kurdistan Province, Iran.Methods: Thirty one horse and mule blood samples were used with history of living in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The blood specimens were utilized for T. equi and B. caballi DNA identification by PCR and Giemsa stained smears for micro-scopic observation.Results: The results clearly showed the presence of B. (Theileria) equi DNA in 30 of 31 blood samples (96.77%), but the microscopic examination revealed the 3 of 31 positive Babesia like organisms in the red blood cells (9.67%).Conclusion: The obtained results demonstrated the presence of hidden B. (Theileria) equi infection in horses with previous habitance in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The carrier animals became a main source of infection and can transmit the disease. Therefore, hidden infection might be considered as a health threatening and limiting factor in animals used in therapeutic antisera research and production centers.

Environmental and hosts risk factors are considered as two essential elements in epidemiological studies of infectious diseases. The severity of the infection and also the chance of transmission of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans bacteria from herbivores to humans have always been exposed to environmental and hosts risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the presence of serum reaction in the equid's population of Lorestan province and the determination of native serovars as well as evaluation of the role of environmental and host factors on seroprevalence. A total of 327 Equids including 223 horses, 46 mules, and 58 donkeys were sampled and sera samples evaluated against 7 different Leptospira interrogans serovars. Geographical location and environmental conditions of sampled areas were recorded to be used in statistical surveys. The results showed that the serum positive reaction rate in horses, mules, and donkeys was 18. 38, 10. 87 and 3. 45%, respectively. Host risk factors such as sex, age, and breed were effective on serum response rate and a significant difference was found. Canicola serovar with 46. 34, 100 and 60% infection in horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively was the most common infective serovar; but a significant difference was not observed between animal species. Also, the results indicated that annual temperature of the environment and altitude at sea level of sampled location have a significant effect on seroprevalence of leptospirosis, but relative humidity and annual rainfall did not have a significant effect. Results of the current study proved that infection with Leptospira interrogans, although in Lorestan province is less severe than in other parts of the country, the most important native serovar of this region is canicola.

Background: Theileria equi is a tick borne protozoan parasite which causes piroplasmosis among equines worldwide. The present study was aimed to determine seroprevalence of T. equi in donkeys, horses, and mules from two equine populated districts (Peshawar and Charsadda) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Methods: A total of 393 equine (195 horses, 194 donkeys and 4 mules) serum samples were collected from five and four randomly selected localities in Charsadda (n = 193) and Peshawar (n = 200), respectively. The presence of antibodies to T. equi was determined using a commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: An overall seroprevalence of 38. 2% (n=150) was observed among all the tested animals suggesting a higher seropositivity among Equids belonging to Charsada (50. 3%) as compared to Peshawar (27. 5%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that being a donkey (OR 2. 94), having tick infestation (OR 4. 32), history of voiding red (i. e., blood containing) urine (OR 3. 97) and anemia (OR 2. 1) were the factors significantly associated with the seroprevalence of T. equi. For animals with higher anti-T. equi antibody titers, a strong association of seroprevalence for T. equi was recorded with species, age, sex, tick infestation, anemia and history of hematuria. Conclusion: The present study indicates a high level of exposure of working Equids to T. equi in KPK region, Pakistan. Future studies should focus on tick vector identification and other factors responsible for spread of the disease.

Fossil vertebrates from quaternary are little known in Iran. This is unfortunately the case for vertebrate fossils from other eras as well. Never the less, elephantidae fossil remains are among the first quaternary fossil vertebrates to be reported from Iran (Farchad and Sahabi 1961). In the recent years more remains of fossil mammals have been reported especially from cave deposits of Late Quaternary in different parts of country, mostly from the Zagros ranges (Biglari et al. 2009, Mashkour et al. 2009). Also, Pleistocene remains of mammals, including Rhinocerotidae, have been reported from eastern Iran (Hashemi and Darvish 2007). Here we report the first fossil mammals from mainly lake and alluvial deposits of Zavyeh area, north of Saveh in central Iran.The Quaternary lake deposits in the study area have been recently studied in detail (Djamali et al. 2006). The former studies in this area failed to distinguish these deposits as an independent unit from the well known formations in the region. During the geological and sedimentological surveys by Djamali, the first vertebrate fossils were collected. Further investigations by authors lead to the discovery of several more remains.This study is thus based on postcranial and dental remains of fossil Perissodactyla. These are parts of pelvis, including Ilium, pubis and sacrum of a large vertebrate resembling rhinos. Other fossils belongs to Equids and consists of metapodials or leg and arm bones (metatarsus and metacarpus) and first phalanges (toe bones), as well as a few lower and upper dentitions. Provenance of equid remains is not as well known as the rhino material. Therefore, it is possible that they belong to different levels from the study area. The lower teeth belong to the molar row (m1-m3) and the upper tooth is a fourth premolar (P4). This material has been described and measured according to standard international protocols (Table 1). The measurements have been used in bivariate analysis and comparison of fossil material with extinct and extant similar species in order to identify the fossil material better (Fig. 6).Based on the size and characteristics of the pelvis bones, they can be referred to rhinoceratidae. To better categorize these fossil remains, the length and width of acetabulum of Zavyeh has been compared with several fossils and extant species, including rhinos and other mammals (Table 2 and Fig. 6A). The graph of acetabulum dimensions clearly shows the association of Zavyeh fossil material with other rhinos, ruling out attribution of these specimens to other families. Zavyeh rhino is similar in size to present day species like the African rhinos as well as fossil material of Stephanorhinus genus. Since Stephanorhinus is the most abundant and prominent fossil rhino of the interglacial Quaternary, We believe that our fossil material is most likely belonging to this genus and an indefinable species.The fossil Equids are clearly belonging to Equus and based on the dental morphology they are better grouped within stenonid horses (Fig. 5). Their main characteristic is the V shaped entoflexid morphology on their lower teeth. To identify the species, we compared both dental and skeletal material with several extant and fossil Equids. The dental comparisons show that the upper premolar tooth is close in size to stenonid species like present day grevyi zebras and hemiones like E. hemiones. However, the Zavyeh material is slightly larger than the mentioned species, reaching the lower size distribution of true horses. The Metapodial graphs show that these fossil materials are smaller than many caballoid horses. They are better suited among stenonids, like African zebras and E. hemionus from different areas (Fig. 6). Therefore, the equid fossils from Zavyeh are probably remains of E. hemionus This conclusion is mainly based on the wide distribution of this species in Quaternary and also their continuous presence in Iran during Holocene and present time. However, presence of other equid species cannot be excluded from this locality In conclusion, presence of fossil rhinos, like Stephanorhinus, and Equids, such as E. hemionus, are reported for the first time from Late Quaternary of Zavyeh, north of Saveh. The presence of rhinos in Late Quaternary of Iran, as was previously reported from eastern and central Iran (Hashemi and Darvish 2006, Biglari et al. 2009, Mashkour et al. 2009) is now documented to larger extent. This increases our data about presence of these peculiar animals in Iran. The Equids should be investigated further to confirm their exact provenance and their possible relation with present day wild asses (E. hemionus onager) of the country. As far as the ancient environment is concerned, these fossils (along with other evidence) show the existence of favorable climatic conditions with more rain and less evaporation during the Late Quaternary of (north and west) Iran (Kehl 2009).

Background: Equine piroplasmosis is a major tick-borne disease that can lead to serious health problems and economic losses in horse industry. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in different species of Equus namely (Horse, mule, donkey and pony) by Giemsa stained blood films and competitive ELISA. Methods: This study was conducted at various geographic areas of Erbil governorate. A total of 349 blood samples from equine (209 horses, 62 mule, 57 donkey and 21 ponies) were collected to estimate the prevalence rate of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi by using Giemsa stained blood smear and competitive ELISA. Results: The overall prevalence rates were (10. 6%) consisting of (8. 3%), (1. 7%) and (0. 6) for T. equi, B. caballi and both infection respectively by Giemsa stained blood smears, and the rate was 38. 97%, consisting of 20. 9% for T. equi, 11. 2% for B. caballi and 6. 9% for both infection by cELISA. Seroprevalence rate of T. equi was significantly higher (P < 0. 001) than that B. caballi in Equids. There was also a significant difference associated between age (P < 0. 01), activity (P < 0. 01), management (P < 0. 001) and tick infestation (P < 0. 001), but neither the type of Equids nor the gender was significant differences associated with prevalence rate. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the equine piroplasmosis is a vital infection distributed among the equine in Erbil province North of Iraq. Thus a better control programme should be implemented to contain and control the prevalence of the disease within the area.

Botkhaneh Cave located at 21 km southwest of Kuhdasht, is one of the archaeological sites which has probably been occupied by mobile pastoralists which through the time the cave was deeply looted. During a rescue archaeological operation the material culture was collected by the last author and his team. The results of the pottery analysis and the occupation pattern in the adjacent sites represent the continuity of a temporary occupation in the cave. In this paper, we assess the characteristics of this site through an archaeozoological study of the animal remains. The faunal assemblage of this site is composed of domestic and wild. Caprines (sheep and goat) followed by bovines and Equids are the most represented taxa while a considerable amount of donkey remains could be identified. We also developed analysis for the kill-off patterns for Caprines and some other taphonomic variations. These observations help to better understand the faunal accumulation in the Botkhaneh Cave in relation to the other archaeological materials.

Equine piroplasmosis is a tickborne disease of Equids with worldwide distribution, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. The aim of this study was molecular detection of T. equi and B. caballi in donkeys in northeastern Iran and investigate the association between positivity of piroplasm infection and host-related factors. In the present study, Blood samples were collected from 106 apparently healthy donkeys (Equus asinus) in North Khorasan province, Iran. Blood smears were prepared and stained by giemsa method. DNA was extracted from blood and then multiplex-PCR was done for detection of any piroplasms infection. According to the results, four donkeys showed T. equi in blood smears but B. caballi was not found. Also, fifty four donkeys (50.94%) showed T. equiinfection using multiplex-PCR. No siginificant difference was observed between the frequency of T. equi infection with host-related factors in donkeys. This is the first report on the molecular detection of eqiune piroplamosis in donkeys in Iran. Also, no significant association was found between the rate of T. equi infected animals.